"Japhy put things in my knapsack and told me I had to carry it or jump in the lake. He was being very serious and leaderly, and it pleased me more than anything else. Then with the same boyish gravity he went over to the dust of the road with the pickax and drew a big circle and began drawing things in the circle."
This quote shows two important things. The first of which is how much he looks up to Japhy. He is proud to be told what to do from Japhy. The second of which is the adventure they are finding in this. Japhy is pretending it is very serious in his boyish way, and Ray Smith is happy to play along. They are looking at this like it was so much more than just climbing a mountain they are creating the adventure before it has begun, making themselves excited. Japhy is anxious to see himself as an important leader, and Ray is happy to follow him.
"Comparisons are odious, Smith."
This is one of the lines of advise Japhy gave. I found it very interesting because I've never thought of a religion as Buddhism apparently does, as disregarding comparisons. Many other religions rely on comparisons, Hell to Heaven, Good to Bad, people live their lives with comparisons even when not religious. A large house versus a small house, a marriage or being single for life. It is hard to imagine living life without comparisons. Our lives would be far more enjoyable if we wer'nt always comparing, but he uses this word of wisdom for another reason. To him All of life is just a void, space, the prerequisite to something more. He is just filling in time, so comparisons are odious.
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